How to clean the television screen and cabinet?

About cleaning the television screen and cabinet.

Regularly removing dust and fingerprints from your television will ensure a clear picture and a more pleasant viewing experience. Special care must be taken to ensure you are cleaning your television properly without damaging any anti-glare coatings or scratching the screen.

The proper cleaning procedure depends on the type of television you have. In general, the screen should be wiped gently with a soft, lint-free cloth. Wipe using small circular motions, moving the cloth from top to bottom. For more stubborn stains, use a soft, lint-free cloth that is lightly dampened with a dilute solution of mild soap (such as dishwashing or handwashing soap) and warm water. Wipe the television cabinet with a lightly dampened, soft cloth to remove dust and fingerprints. For more stubborn stains, use a soft, lint-free cloth that is lightly dampened with a dilute solution of mild soap and warm water. Do not use paper towels, which can scratch the surface of high-gloss cabinets. Likewise, strong cleaning agents can strip the finish off of television cabinets over time. Wipe the speaker grilles with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use a damp cloth or any cleaners as these could stain or damage the grille.

Refer to the information below for specific instructions on how to clean various types of televisions.

WARNING:There is a risk of personal injury. Make sure your hands are not wet when plugging or unplugging the TV power cord from the electrical outlet. If your hands are wet there is a risk of electric shock.

WARNING: There is a risk of hardware damage. Do not rub the screen. Rubbing the screen may cause any anti-reflective coating to be scratched.

WARNING: There is a risk of hardware damage. Do not use any type of window cleaner, abrasive pad, scouring powder or solvents (such as alcohol, paint thinner or benzene). These items will damage the screen of the television.

WARNING: There is a risk of hardware damage. Do not use paper products such as paper towels to wipe the sceen as these may scratch the surface of the screen.

Standard CRT - Newer televisions that may have a special anti-glare coating on the screen should be cleaned with a soft, damp cloth. Older direct-view televisions that do not have any special coatings should also be cleaned with a soft damp cloth. If it's extremely dirty, a dilute mild soap solution may be used. Use of glass cleaner or cleaning solutions will not harm the screen but can cause discoloration of the bezel of the television.

CRT Rear-Projection with a screen shield - Wipe the screen shield with a dry or damp soft cloth. If it's extremely dirty, a dilute mild soap solution may be used. Do not use paper products, such as paper towels, to clean the screen shield. Paper products can easily scratch the surface of the shield. Screen shields may have a tendency to streak while cleaning. If this happens, use a dry cloth and buff the screen in a small circular motions, moving the cloth from top to bottom.

CRT Rear-Projection without a screen shield - Rear projection TVs without a screen shield should be cleaned with a special screen cleaning product and microfiber cloth. Screen-cleaning kits are available at your local TV service center or electronics store. Wipe the screen using small circular motions, moving the cloth from top to bottom, or side to side, following the direction of the ridges on the screen.

Plasma - Plasma screens should be cleaned with a soft, damp microfiber cloth. For stubborn stains, use a soft, lint-free cloth that is lightly dampened with a dilute solution of mild soap (such as dishwashing or handwashing soap) and warm water. Do not use strong cleaning agents as these could strip the special coatings on the screen. Do not use paper products as they can scratch the screen.

Flat Panel LCD - Wipe the screen with a slightly damp, microfiber cloth to clean the screen, then immediately dry with a soft cloth. However, for more stubborn stains, you can use a soft cloth slightly dampened with a solution of mild soap and warm water. When cleaning, wipe the screen using small circular motions from top to bottom; immediately afterwards, use a soft cloth to dry the screen. Do not press hard on the screen during cleaning. Doing so could cause severe damage to the display. Do not use any cleansers, such as glass cleaner or soap, to clean the LCD screen. Paper products such as paper towels could scratch the front of the screen.